Hey Fred, Verticals - it's all I run. I've played with them and researched them off and on for several years. I'm no expert but here is a quick summary of what I've learned.
Vertical efficiency depends on ground conduction in two fields. Near field (which can be enhanced by radials) and far field (out of your control). Radiation patterns are greatly affected by ground conduction in the far field so don't expect yagi-crushing performance from a vertical unless you're surrounded by salt water. The near field you have some control over. The better job you do of screening the ground at the base of the antenna, the higher the efficiency and the more of your signal gets radiated. A minimum ground system is something like 16 radials, .15 wave long. Better performance can be achieved with 104 radials, 0.5 wave long. But that's all theory, what about practice? If you have a way to support a horizontal antenna 1/2 wave in the air, it's a better way to go. I don't so I'm "vertical bound". Cushcraft R6000 and HyGain AV640 have received good reviews from folks. Cushcraft MA5V is not a good antenna due to very narrow bandwidth (I had one - never again). I've heard good and bad reviews of the GAP antennas. Some love them, others say it performs poorly on all bands. Force 12 look interesting but IIRC have a requirement of keeping the feedline at a right angle for some distance. I may be wrong on this so check it out. I have yet to see a good head-to-head of various verticals. My theory is that most of the commercial antennas perform about the same provided you give an adequate radial field to those that need it. Butternut is a tried & true antenna. Hustler 4BTV or 5BTV is very inexpensive and works just fine, thank you. Both of these require radials & neither covers all the WARC bands. If you want to use only a few radials, elevate them. Eight raised radials can equal 60 or more buried radials. If I were in your shoes (I'm close), I'd go with R6000 or AV640 and would try to mount them as high as possible. The best thing you can do to your antenna is to put RF into it. You'll make lots more contacts on a middle-of-the-road antenna that regularly sees RF than on a top-notch radiator that sits idle. And yes, you can make lots of contacts and have lots of fun on a mediocre antenna. I certainly have. - Keith KD1E - - K2 5411 - -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Fred (FL) Sent: Monday, June 12, 2006 9:38 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] What Vertical Antenna Do I Need? I'm another limited space, restricted community ham (for now). I've been considering different types of verticals which might be best. I THINK, I'm looking for an antenna which: - vertical ? - no radials - no counterpoises - no guy-wires - 40 thru 10 - maybe 4 shorter buried radials (if I must) - not a lot of "visual" space, for neighbors We have a MOBILE Home (mostly plastic, and wood) - which sits on a slab of concrete, surrounded by 8x8 wood timers, 2 feet high on front side of mobile. Can easily get UNDER mobile, thru removable siding. Park owner, OK'd a "marine antenna" - whatever that means to him. We live on shore of St. Lawrence River - Canada in the distance. What commercial or home-made antenna could suit my bill? Fred N3CSY __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
